Over 178,000 Immigrants Depart South Africa Amid Crisis

WHO:

AP News - South African President Cyril Ramaphosa condemned violence against migrants.

AP News - Advocacy groups raised concerns over the sudden movements of people.

AP News - UNICEF and the U.N.'s Committee on the Rights of the Child expressed concern for children affected by the returns.

AP News - The Zimbabwe Exemption Permit Coordinating Committee estimated over 11,000 children returned to Zimbabwe.

WHAT:

ABC News World - More than 178,000 immigrants have fled or been deported from South Africa.

AP News - More than 178,000 African immigrants have left South Africa in recent months.

AP News - South Africa officially deported around 19,000 people since April.

AP News - Nearly 4,000 children under the age of 5 returned from South Africa, according to Malawi.

AP News - Approximately 3,000 people are awaiting deportation at a migrant detention center near Johannesburg.

WHERE:

AP News - The mass exodus is occurring from South Africa, which is described as Africa’s most advanced economy.

AP News - More than 115,000 people returned to Zimbabwe and over 56,000 returned to Malawi.

AP News - Protests against illegal immigration occurred in Johannesburg, South Africa.

WHEN:

AP News - Nationwide demonstrations against illegal migration took place on June 30, 2026.

AP News - The count of returning immigrants includes those who returned since late May.

WHY:

ABC News World - A crackdown on undocumented migration and violent anti-immigration protests prompted the exodus.

AP News - Many migrants left due to fears of attacks amid rising anti-immigrant sentiment.

HOW:

AP News - The returns consist of people deported by South Africa and others taking up repatriation offers from their home countries.

AP News - South African authorities deployed around 6,300 inspectors to check for illegal employment of migrants.

(UPDATED August 8, 2026 19:28 UTC)

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has condemned the violence against migrants as more than 178,000 African immigrants have fled or been deported from the country in recent months. Advocacy groups are raising concerns about the sudden movements of people, with UNICEF and the U.N.'s Committee on the Rights of the Child expressing worry for the over 11,000 children who have returned to Zimbabwe, including nearly 4,000 children under the age of 5 who came back from South Africa. The mass exodus has been fueled by a crackdown on undocumented migration and rising anti-immigrant sentiment, prompting protests in Johannesburg and leading to the deployment of around 6,300 inspectors to check for illegal employment of migrants.